Scleral Buckling for Traction Retinal Detachment in Retinopathy of Prematurity

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To analyze the surgical outcomes of encircling procedure for acute stage 4 retinopathy of prematurity. Methods: Seventeen eyes with traction retinal detachment caused by retinopathy of prematurity were treated by scleral buckling. The patients were 7 boys and 1 girl. The average gestational age at birth was 28 weeks. The average age at surgery was 15 weeks. Photocoagulation and/or cryocoagulation were performed for every eye before surgery. All eyes underwent encircling using 2.0 mm wide 360 circumferential silicone band. Drainage of subretinal fluids were not carried out in any cases. Average follow-up was 12 months. Results: Twelve eyes out of 17 eyes (70.6%) achieved reattachment with a single scleral buckling procedure. Five of 17 retinas (29.4%) was unable to be reattached and resulted in following vitrectomy. None of eyes revealed intraoperative complications. Encircling bands needed to be revised in one patient twelve months after surgery because of overtightness of the bands. Conclusions: These data encourages that prophylactic scleral buckling appears to be effective for acute stage 4 retinopathy of prematurity.

Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity • retinal detachment